Blue Sky Squeezes GPS Onto a SIM

[Pete Paxton]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/04/26/gps_sim/' target='_blank'>http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/04/26/gps_sim/</a><br /><br /></div><i>"Just as we were predicting the end of SIM technological development, along comes a technology which really could be a killer application - a complete GPS system embedded inside one. At the SIMposium in Berlin, Blue Sky Positioning announced it has developed a complete GPS system, including the antenna, which physically fits in, and works from within, a mobile phone SIM slot. GPS receivers have been rapidly shrinking in recent years, but this marks a massive reduction in size as well as the technical feat of receiving GPS satellite signals from a space sandwiched between the phone battery and circuit board. It's A-GPS, so much of the processing is done off the SIM, using data sent over SMS or similar, but the technical challenges are still considerable."</i><br /><br />The one thing missing on my Dash (besides 3G) is GPS. While Windows Live Search usually gets me where I need to go, having GPS would be that much better. Well according to The Register, Blue Sky is developing a sim card that will have a GPS receiver, including the antenna, built right into that tiny little card. No word on cost but they expect to have production samples by July. So do you have GPS? Do you use it often? If you don't have it, would you be interested in a GPS sim card for your smartphone?

[hotdram]

EXCELLENT!

Being a gadget junkie, and GPS receivers being one of my biggest collection of gadgets, I think this is great. One more step towards convergence.
To answer the question above, yes I have a GPS (or 4). I use a bluetooth GPS receiver paired with my Samsung. I use it with Windows Live Search, Mapopolis and Microsoft Streets and Trips. Most of my "use" is just playing with it, or using around town. I usually use it for the "wow" factor when I show people what a smartphone is capable of.

BUT, I have been an early adapter in the past (Palm M505 is 2 four letter words to me). I would be hesitant to get one of the first versions of these receivers until I heard more about their reception qualities in real life situations (ie "urban canyons", dense tree coverage, very cloudy weather etc). Being that the antenna is INTERNAL, underneath the battery, I am a little leary of the reception quality. Also as an engineer, I am skeptical, by nature (but I love to see bleeding edge technology work).

~Rob

[KiLLiN-TiMe]

This could certainly have its advantages, however…

I have had GPS for several years now. I started off with a compact flash GPS Holux receiver. I currently have a Bluetooth SERF III model, with several in-between.

I love my GPS however; the screen on my Dash is just way too small. Which is kind of funny because as a PDA user, the screen and size of the unit really cant be small enough… but as a GPS user, the screen size has to be something that you can glance at and see what you need so you can focus back on the road instead of squinting at the screen trying to figure out what your seeing and where your at…

I am currently in the market for a stand alone GPS unit. The prices on these units have fallen so much that it’s really a great time to be looking. There are many options right now and several under $200.

That being said… having GPS in my phone would be great for many things. I want just general directions, where the heck am I, I’m in a ditch and I need help! (Remember that gal who spent a week in her car in South Dakota stranded in a ditch), ECT…

I am all for things being smaller, but there are certain things that we really don’t want smaller. Like my TV for instance, I could buy a smaller one, but why??? LOL

So personally I can’t see me using my smart phone for GPS (and I can now with my Bluetooth GPS) because the size of the screen. But I love GPS; personally I think it’s the greatest thing since sliced bread!!! I have so many stories about how great GPS is and how it saved several vacations and made them much more enjoyable (my wife is not a very good navigator, and isn’t that the job of the person in the passenger seat?).

FWIW
KT

[socrates]

How would this work?

The sim in my phone is issued by T-Mobile. Would I need to buy this from them, or is there some way to copy the settings from their SIM to a 34d party one?

I have a BT GPS receiver currently which is great in the car and on the bicycle. But there are times when I may be out with a firend and suddnly wish I had the GPS unit with me and don't.

[Stinger]

I've got GPS on my N95. I use it if I'm driving somewhere for the first time and occasionally when I'm walking through the (sometimes confusing) streets of London.

I never bothered with GPS before but now that I have it, I don't know how I could live without it. :)

[hotdram]

I love my GPS however; the screen on my Dash is just way too small.
… but as a GPS user, the screen size has to be something that you can glance at and see what you need so you can focus back on the road instead of squinting at the screen trying to figure out what your seeing and where your at…

I am currently in the market for a stand alone GPS unit. The prices on these units have fallen so much that it’s really a great time to be looking. There are many options right now and several under $200.



I agree with the screen size. That is why I usually use mine for "play" purposes. I do not travel much, but I always have my phone with me and the bluetooth receiver is always in the truck. Around town this comes in handy (Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex), when I have to go somewhere I am not familiar with.
When I do travel, I use a Garmin Nuvi 660 (a bit more than $200, but the price is dropping fast). I am in total agreement with the GPS screen size needing to be bigger so the user doesn't strain when trying to look at it.

~Rob

[dstrauss]

This would be a godsend despite small screen size of my Blackjack. One less device to remember (forget) to take on a short trip. HOWEVER, I find it hard to beleive that AT&amp;T (the new Cingular?) would permit you to buy one of these third party, so I can see another two year contract extension coming for the SIM upgrade. Why do I feel like Dante's prisoner? :evil:

[Mike Temporale]

I would love to have one of these. It's a much better idea than adding memory to the SIM card. 256 or 512 MB comes and goes. It's not all that much space and when you consider the phone already has a memory expansion slot, it's better to allow the person to insert 1 or 2 GB or memory instead of locking them to something so small. So, adding GPS instead is a wonder trade-off. I sure hope this is something we can get access to soon. :mrgreen:

[Lurk]

I'm with socrates and dstrauss on this.

How would I get one? The SIM comes from the carrier and identifies me to the network. I can't just pop out and buy a new SIM.